Why do the luggage racks like touratech, ktm, rally-raid, etc. Use spacers on the lower mounting points? Doesn't seem to make sense to me. Puts extra leverage and pressure on the Mount... Wouldn't it be so much better to be flush up against the mount?
I am with you on this - the lower mounts make no sense to me ?? Maybe to allow twisting without breaking ??? The stock rear pegs fit fine - a lower mount that fit like they do, then swung out to miss swingarm/allow for boots would work better in my mind...
to be honest, no these bags don't even remotely require the rack. on the left (non pictured) side, i carry a rotopax with a 1 gal jug of water I intend to add some extra tool/spares carrying capacity for the right side rack in the future.
I have been going through the thread, but have not found the info I am looking for yet. Considering the Happy Trails pannier racks but I would like to know if they are asymmetrical where the exhaust side sticks out farther than the other side, or if they made these symmetrical so both sides are the same. HT seems to alternate between doing both. On our WR250 they are asymmetrical, when I was shopping for the Tiger 800 they were not. I'd love to see a pick from the rear if anyone has them. HT doesn't seem interested in listing the info on the website, or putting up a pic from the rear.
Been doing some thinking and tweaking of my Magadans panniers, on my 690 with RR racks. Check it out: http://advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25555034&postcount=114 I have been running the Magadan Panniers on a few rides, and due to my annoyance with the over the seat strap (see link above) I have been looking at the Giant Loop Siskiyou. Luckily my friend just bought a set of Siskiyous and let me borrow them for a test fit up. This is a 2014 690 Enduro with Rally Raid racks, and Nomadic rear top rack. Long story short, see this album for fit up photos of each. https://www.flickr.com/photos/isaac_eos/sets/72157647069939103/ Comments: Pros of Magadan, compared to Siskiyou -Each bag has 2 pockets, so you can carry 2 bottles of gas and 2 bottles of water -Inner bag liner is more heavy duty -Bag construction is very robust with the slash resistant fabric, easier to lock to bike with travel cables, and more options to lash down on a variety of racks Pros of Siskiyou, compared to Magadan -Bag is less deep and wider, so its easier to find things (think of a short but wide basket, versus a small diameter deep bucket) -Inner bag is yellow, MUCH easier to see things (though it is less heavy duty then the Magadan liner) -Easier to open the bag, more options to lash gear to the top, and a nice document pouch in each lid. -The big Velcro flap that goes over the seat is very strong, but also giant. Not too bad to sit on, but it does cover the gas cap. If I used it, I would have to cut some off at the back to keep the gas cap open. -They almost conform perfectly to the shape of the RR racks. The Magadans hand down a little bit, almost a touch droopy. I did try playing around with folding the big flap between the bag and the rack, to hide it. It works, but the 2 over the seat straps of the Siskiyous are smaller and less robust looking then on the Magadan. I feel that for long use offroad, it might overwhelm just the straps, and really would require the use of the big Velcro flaps. Based on my link above, I may keep the Magadan as that would solve the issue of sitting on a thick strap. I also notice that with the Magadans, I can stand up and lean back. With the Siskiyou, they sit more forward and my boots are brushing the bags when standing straight up (before I even start leaning back). This is true with RR racks, but would differ depending on what rack you use. If I push these bags further back on my RR racks, I really start covering up the gas cap and one main goal is to keep access always clear and open. For reference, in each shot that is a Primus 1.5L bottle in the forward pocket.
isaac004 - some great info in your posts - appreciate the great info ! I just modded my RR rear racks to accommodate the Magadans a bit better - they are off getting powdercoated, but will post some images when they get back.
You are welcome. Looking forward to seeing what mods you did to the RR racks. Can you describe in the mean time?
Isaac004, Just run the magadan straps under the seat. You just need to move them back just a little so that the front stap doesn't push against the fuse block too much. Also remove the rubber bungs on the seat where the strap runs. Nick.
The 2014 has less room under the seat, as the abs pump forced some more electronics to the seat area. I tried but so far was not able to get the strap to go under the seat. Also concerned about shifting the bags back, as the rear strap then covers the fuel filler cap.
I run the TT side racks, Wolfman top rack, and Magadans panniers as far forward as possible while still being supported by the racks (see pics earlier in this thread). This puts the rear over-the-seat strap behind the fuel filler cap just far enough to get the fuel nozzle in without having to remove anything, I don't sit on the strap at all, and the bags never get in the way while riding. If you ever have to carry tires during a long ride you can sling them around the bags and support them with the passenger pegs in the front as well. The only improvements I could see is making the hoops bigger towards the bottom for better support and possibly moving them forward, if you can get them far enough to have the strap clear the gas cap while still not having the bags interfere with my boots. It would make carrying tires a whole lot more complicated and I might also get annoyed by having to sit on the strap so I probably wouldn't bother for my current needs.